Container cap



Aug. 20, 1929. 5, PlcKER 1,724,963

CONTAINERCAP Filed April 26, 1926 INVENTOR Mfl wav I g; WM?

/ ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 4

- SHJNEY PICKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO CRYSTAL CHEMICAL COMPANY I INQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01? NEW YORK.

CONTAINER CA1.

Application filed April 2a, 1926. Serial no; 104,507.

This invention relates to improvements in caps for powder distributing containers, particularly containers for powdered materials, such as, dental powders, face powders,

5 condiments, and other dry products in pow- I der form in which small amounts are required, and which must be kept in sealed, air-tight condition within the containers.

Up to the present time the general form of caps for containers for the above stated products have been of the type where one portion of a two-part cap is rotated so that a series of openings are juxtaposed into an alignment, and the powder or-condiment is urged outwardly by inverting-or shaking the can.

Further types of caps have provided for the relative opening and closing of the cap by movement of a plate member between .a

series of aligned openings, which openings are normally covered, and which are uncovered upon movement of the said plate member. I

Heretofore, no cap has been provided wherein the distribution openings in the cap for the container can be opened by pressure, and automatically closed upon the release or cessation of said pressure. 7

This feature is particularly desirable since it is usually the fact, that the cap when opened for use and distribution ofthe powder is oftenallowed to remain open indefinitely, due to the forgetfulness of the user,

and the results are detrimental since either.

the powder is affected by the atmospheric condition, or the powder being of a'poisonous nature, or content is exposed to use by children and others not acquainted with its propert This applies to the t 40 where e movable plate is rotate reciprocated, or the cover lifted away, since a positive reverse action is required usually to bring the openings out of alignment.

" It is a purpose of this invention to provide for a novel form of cap for a container for powder by which powder may be ur ed through apertures in said cap only w en pressure is applied to the locking means within said cap, which locking means being an air-tight closure upon the release of said pressure.

To carry this out the applicant has devised a. spring pressed. locking plate interposed adjacent either single or multiple es of cap controlled by pressure automatically form' aligned openings in a cap, whereby movement thereof either opens or closes these apertures for the distribution or retention of the powder from or within the container.

Among theobjects of this invention it is aimed to provide a simplified powder discharge medium within a cap formed on a container for powdered contents, whereby movement of said alignment locking means through the agency of pressure will open the apertures in the cap and allow for a discharge therethrough, and where the release of said locking means is carried on independently of the operation of the pressure there- 'on, to wit:' by automatic action'of a tensed It is the purpose of this invention to provide for a cap or closure for containers, comprising movable and fixed sections, wherein movement of one of the sections thereof opens and closes aligned apertures for the passage therethrough of the'powdered contents within the container, and which member operates against spring tension, the latter force causing the said member to close the aligned apertures and to return to its original position upon release of the pressure previously applied thereto to open the aligned. apertures.

Still further it is aimed to provide a novel form of container cap comprising a stamped or pressed metal cup-shaped holder in which spring tension means are positioned, and above and adjacent to which there reciprocates a locking member, in which openings are positioned to coincide with openings in a closure top, upon the extreme movement of the locking member in one direction, and which is adapted to return toits initial position by' tension developed within and the actuation of the spring member amociated therewith. i

Still further it is aimed to provide a simple locking mechanism for a container cap whereby the movement to which the locking member is subjected consists of a short hOI'lzontal movement within guiding means, wherebj an alignment of respective apertures within the locking means and the can top means is readily produced with a H1111].- mum of movement of the alignment means to eitheropen or shut position.

Finallyit is aimed to provide a novel form of container closure comprising a reciprocating locking plate member slidable Within the closure top and bottom members, in which the bottom member has a central aperture therein, and both the top and loclring plate members have apertures therein adjacent said central aperture, WlllCh apertures are brought into and out of alignment upon movement only of the locking plate member.

Figure 2.

Figure 4: is a section along lines 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure-5 is a plan View of the sliding member in the invention.

Figure 6 is a section along the lines 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view showing the lower portion of the subject matter of this inven tion.

Figure 8 is a side elevation in section along the lines 8--8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the spring member formed along the lines of the subject matter of this invention.

Figure 10 is a plan view partly cut out of the modification of this invention.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a portion of the element formed of the subject matter of this invention.

Figure 12 is a side elevation in section along the lines 1212 of Figure 11.

Referring to the reference characters in the drawing, numeral 13 represents the head of a container, particularly that of a metallic container formed of tin upon which the cap member 14 forms the subject matter of this invention. This cap member consists of four portions, a head 15, a reciprocating locking member 16, a base 17, and a spring member 24.

Referring particularly to Figure 7, the base member 17 consists of a stamped metallic section having a central aperture 18 surrounded by a circular annular projection 19, adjacent to which there is an annular channel of non uniform width 20, which channel is in the form of a depression extending slightly below the height of member 19 shown in Figure 8. Adjacent this irregular channel 20 there is formed an irregular concentric projection 21 so that the Width of the base between opposite sides of the periphery of the aperture 18 in the base member 17 is equal. Upon opposing sides of the member 21 there are formed the guideways. 22 and 23 which are in the form of slight de ressions and the purpose of which will be ater. described. 1

Referring to Figure 8 the relative locations and widths of the respective sections can be more clearly determined. Within the annular channel 20, there is adapted to be actuated the spring member 24, which herein is formed in the shape of a semi-circle of bent wire one end of which 25 is fixed in an aperture Within channel 20, or against the sidewall 19 herein not shown, it being within the province of the inventor to vary the relative portions and structural arrangement of the said spring within the .cap member. The other end member 26 is fastened to a projection 27 formed on the slidable plate member 16 shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 3, it can be seen that the spring member 4: is attached at its extremity 25 in a position very close to the Wall of the projection 19, so that the other extremity thereof will havev considerable space or play for movement within the channel or guideways 20 formed in the base.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, the slidable plate member or locking member 16 consists of a thin metallic member having a "plurality of apertures 28 therein, which apertures are disposed at a positive relationship with respect to one another. Tongues or extensions 29 and 30 are formed at the opposite extremities of this plate member, the tongue 29 being adapted to slide into the guideway 22 and the tongue 30 is adapted to slidcin the guideway 23. A projection 31 at the extremity of the tongue .30 is adapted to serve as a means of applyingthe pressure and at the same time afl'ording a gripping means in order to bring about the movement of the plate member 16 upon the base member 17. v j

Referring. to Figures .2 and-4, the head member 15 comprisesa flat plate -member bent over to term downwardly inclined extremities 32 all about its periphery, so as to surround the outer surface 33 to the base member 17 and to enclose the same. The head member 15 has a plurality of apertures 34 therein which apertures are adapted-to be in alignment with the apertures 28 of the slidable plate member when the said plate member is returned to its original position upon the expansion of the spring member 24.,

An aperture 35 is-formed on one portion of the periphery of the-cap 15 throughwhich the extension or tongue of the plate member 16 is adapted to pass for reciprocation.

Upon the assembly of the device as shown in Figures 2, 3,'and 4, the plate member 16 is urged from right to left by pressure against the extension 31 of the plate member which is moved against the opposing resistance of-the spring member 24, the motion of this plate member being guided by the means of the guideways 22'and23 acting in conjunction with the tongues 23 and 30 of the plate member 16. As the plate member 'is moved towards the left the spring member 24 is tensioned and'at the same time the apertures 28 are brought into alignment with the apertures 3403f thecap at which time the condiment or powder. within the. containei' passes through the opening 18 through the apertures 28 and finally 'out'through the apertures 34 powdered.

I The amount of compression of the spring andthe limit of expansion of the springare controlled by the width of the concentric upon the article or part to be I depression or channel 20. Upon the release of pressure against the portion 31 of the plate member the plate is urged-by the expansion of the spring member 24 acting against the projection 27 thereon, to return to its original position during which operation the apertures 28 are drawn out of alignment with respect to the apertures 34 of the cap and consequently the passage of material therethrough terminated.

Referring to figures 1O, 11, and 12 a modification of the device is-shown wherein the base member 36 consists of a central aperture 37 havingsurrounding-the same, fiat projeetion 38. Adjacent this projection there is formed a channel member 39 similar to the channeL member 20 of the structure hereinbefore described, but which channel is made to be practically constant in Width. An outer concentric wall 40 is formed adjacent and projecting upwardly from the outer periphery of the channel 39.

It is obvious that this base member itself can be formed in the stamping operation and that the complete basemay be made in a one-step operation, thus providing for the low cost of the article. I

The spring member 41 is adapted to be positioned on one side only of the channel member 39 and is shown in Figure 10 as being attached to apin 42 formed as a projection adjacent the guide member 43 extending from the wall 40 and at its other extremity to a projection 44 extending downwardly and into the channel member from the side of the reciprocating plate member 45. The plate member 45 is similar to the plate member 16 shown in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive, the only difference being that the tongue member 46 therein is in the shape of a T; that is, the plate member upon being stamped provides for the tongue member 46 which is bent over on itself in the form of a T sothat one portion thereof may slide into the depression 47 of the guide member 43, while the lower faces thereof may slide from the projections 48 of the guide member 43.

Though in Figures 10, l1, and 12 one spring member is provided, it is within the province of the inventor to provide for a plurality of spring members, one operable in each guideway.

The operation of this device as a modification is similar to thatdescribed in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, this form being merely a modified form where the question of space or size 4 of the cap is to be a minimum. As shown in the bottom of Figure 10 the head, base and 'plate members are positioned with respect to one another in a manner similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications ma be made to the details of construction wit out departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A cap for containers comprising a base having an aperture disposed centrally thereof, an annular depression of varying width adjacent said aperture, an offset annular pro-. jection of varying width adjacent said annular depression, guide means on opposite sides of said projection, a plate member slid able across said annular projection and havmg apertures thcreln, a cap for covering sald plate member, and said base, and having a series of apertures therein, normally out of alignment with those in the plate member, a spring member in said annular depression, one end of said spring member being attached to said plate member, the other end being fixed to the base, whereby inward movement of the plate through the application of pressure thereon causes the apertures in the cap and the plate to become aligned and compresses the spring member, the resiliency of which causes outward movement of said plate upon release of pressure on the plate. I

2. A cap for powder containers comprising a base portion, an annular wall of var ing width along the outer periphery of said base, guide members on opposite of said wall, an annular depression of varying width ad acent said wall, a spring member positioned within said depression having one extremity fixed therein, a plate memberslidable on said base portion, and guided within said guide members and means on said plate member for attaching thesame to the other end of said spring, apertures disposed centrally within said plate member, a cap passingover said plate and said base member and having apertures therein; the apertures of said cap and plate member being normally out of alignment whereby the application of pressure to provide inward movement of sa d plate member causes compression of sa d springmei'nber and the positioning of said apertures in alignment with one another. and the resiliency of said spring member causes outward movement of said plate member upon release of pressure on the plate.

A -ap for containers comprising a base member, guide means on opposite sides of said base member. a plate slidable across said base member. a spring: member having one end attachable to said base member-and the ber between the guides by pressure. whereby to compress the spring member and to open the aligned apertures in said cap and base position. members, said spring member being adapted upon the cessation ofapplication of pressure to the plate member. through expansion, to

tion.

4. A closure for containers comprising a base member, guide means on opposite sides of said base member, a slidable plate member positioned on said base member and having projections passing within the guide means, a cap member enclosing said base member and said slidable plate, apertures in said base-and cap members, apertures in said plate member.'an 'mmularchanuel in said base member, tension means lying in said channel and having one extremity attachable to the base member and the other extremity to the slidable plate member whereby displacement of the slidable plate member causes alignreturn the plate member to its original posiment of all said apertures and compression of. said spring vmember, said spring member upon expansion being; adapted to displace the slldable plate member to its original SIDNEY PICKE-R. 

